Spark-plug with priming device.



I. V. BEAM.

SPARK PLUG WITH PRIMING DEVICE. APPLICATION IILBD DEC. 12, 1912.

Patented May 26, 1914.

- Eimira, county of UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

IRA V. BEAM,

OF ELMIBA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO NICHOLAS D.

DOXEY, OFELMIRA, NEW YORK.

SPARK-PLUG. WITH PRIMING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application filed December 12, 1912. Serial No. 736,439.

To all whom it may concern:

it known that I, IRA V. BEAM, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Chemung, State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Spark-Plu s with Priming Devices, of which theollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to spark plugs for hydrocarbon motors, and moreparticularly to certain improvements adapted to permit the introductionof a priming fluid through the spark plug and has for its object the provision of a spark plug of this type which can be constructed in aninexpensive manner and which is nevertheless highly efficient in theperformance of its functions.

The novel features of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich- I Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a spark plug embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the usual shell provided withthe screw threads 11 by means of which it is adapted to be secured inthe wall of a hydrocarbon motorl Arranged within the shell 10 is atubular insulating member 13 provided with a collar 14 which is adaptedto be clamped,

the end of the shell 10 by means of the nut 15. The lower end 16 of theshell 10 is preferably of cylindrical form and constitutes one terminalof the spark gap. The lower end 17 of the insulating member 13 is alsocylindrical in section and slightly smaller than the shell 10 to providea space 17', as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

Arranged within the tubular insulating member 13 is a bolt or aconductor 18 which is provided at its lower end with a head 19 ofslightly smaller diameter than the interior of the portion 16 of theshell so as to provide a slight space between these parts, this spaceconstituting the spark gap and the head 19 constituting the otherterminal thereof.

It has been found that carbon is frequently deposited on the exposedparts of the spark plug and is liable to cause a short circuit of theterminals of the gap and in order to reduce this liability to a minimum,I have provided the space 17 between the against portion 17 of theinsulating member and the interior of the shell so that in order to forma short circuit between the terminals of the spark gap it is necessaryfor the carbon to be deposited on the insulating member from the lowerend thereof to the upper end of the space 17'.

The conductor 17 has its upper end screw threaded and a nut 20 isarranged thereon and clamped against a washer 21 which bears on theupper end of the insulating member 13. Above the nut 20 is a. cap member22 having an interior chamber 23 which has an opening to atmosphere atits top as shown in Fig, 1. Arranged within the chamber 23 is a ballvalve 24 which is pressed upwardly, mally close the opening between thechamber 23 and the atmosphere. The conductor 18 is provided on itsexterior with a longitudinal slot 26 which preferablyextends the entirelength of the conductor and communicates at its upper end with thechamber 23 and at its lower end with the interior of the motor cylinder.

The cap member 22 is also adapted to serve as a nut for the purpose ofclamping a .wire or other electrical conductor between thelower endthereof and the nut 20 for the purpose of forming an electricalconnection with the conductor 18.

When the spark plug is in use the pressure on the interior of thecylinder tends to force the gases upwardly through the slot 26, and theescape of the gases isprevented by the ball valve 24. When it is desiredto introduce a priming fluid into the cylinder this may be accomplishedby pressing the spout of an oil can downwardly on the ball valve 24, toopen the valve, and injecting the fluid in the usual manner in whichlubricant is discharged from an oil can. The fluid will flow downwardlyfrom the chamber 23 through the slot 26, and accumulate on the lowerside of the head 19 adjacent the spark gap so that when the fluidvaporizes the vapor will be in the vicinity 9f the spark gap, andignition will readily take place.

I am aware of the fact that in prior constructions the partcorresponding to my conductor 18 has been provided with a central borefor the purpose of injecting a priming fluid into the cylinder of themotor but on account of the small size of these conductors it iscomparatively expensive to provide them with such a bore and therefore Ihave greatly improved and cheapened the cost of manufacture by providingthe slot 26 in the outer surface of the conductor, this slot being cutby means of a saw or in any other suitable manner.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters-Patent is,

A spark plug comprising a shell, at the inner end of which is arrangedone terminal of the spark gap, a tubular insulating member securedwithin said shell, a conductor arrangedwithin said tubular member andhaving the other terminal of the spark gap at its inner end and athreaded outer end extending beyond said insulating member, saidconductor having a longitudinal slot. in its outer surface extendingfrom the outer end thereof to a point adjacent said terminals, a nut onthe outer end of said conductor and cooperating with said head to clampthe conductor in position, a cap member screwed onto the outer end ofsaid conductor and having an interior chamber in communication with saidslot, and a passage from the exterior to said chamber, and a springpressed valve arranged to normally close said passage and prevent theescape of gases through said slot, said valve being adapted to open, topermit the introduction of a priming fluid, by the application of inwardpressure thereto. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

IRA V. BEAM.

Witnesses:

A. S. DIVEN, EDNA L. ToRREY.

